Tap-making machine.



F. MULLER.

TAP MAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION mm FEB-8, ISII. RENEWED OCT. 23. m1.

Patented July 30, 1918.

9 SHEETS-SHEET l Inventor.

" flz'adara'eb Mfillqr bkQfitorne-y Wtnsses I 3 4,

F. MULLER.

TAP MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED FEB. 8, 19H. RENEWED OCT-23,1917.

Patented July 30, 1918.

9 SHEETSSHEET 2.

7 Jill/6'12 07: Frze derz'CfiMu Her 59 bis/hierwe Witnesses:

a? JFW F. MULLER.

TAP'MAKING MACHINE.

RENEWED OCT. 23, I917.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 8, 19H- Patented July 30, 1918.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

xm x

a [Tune/q F. MULLER.

TAP MAKING MACHINE.

APPLlCATIGN FILED FEB. 8. i911. RENEWED OCT. 23, 1911.

w mm 9 H c m M wmn%/ s 9 3 W\% m 2 F F. MULLER.

} TAP MAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB- 8. l9!!- RENEWED OCT.23.19l7.

1 ,273,904. Patented July 30, 1918. 155 9 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

/7 i Jul atar.- wrmnmfi F. MULLER.

TAP MAKING MACHINE. I APPLICATION FILEP FEB. 8, I911. RENEWED 001123.191?. 1,273,904, Patented July 30, 1918.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

.25 fiisAttornay fla F. MULLER.

TAP MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 8. I9!!- RENE V I ED OCT. 23. I911.

. Patented J 111 30, 1918.

' 9 SHEETS-SHEET] F. MULLER.

TAP MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8., 1.91m RENEWED OCT. 23, 1917.

Patented July 30, 1918.

9 SHEETSSHEET 8 27g. 9.

-ln veil/tor: F

Witness-es: h vgmzibu F. MULLER.

w MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB 8. I9. RENEWED OCT- 23I I911.

Patented J uly' 30, 1918.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 9 fiaven t0 7: def-02% Mzzzzer By his Attorneyl|I|||||l|llL l l l I l I l I I l l I. rw n m: M \g k w M n5 wQ 5 w 2,.w u 1 mm W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

F BIEDEBICH MULLER, OIf HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO PRATT &COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TAP-MAKING MACHINE.

' Application flle d l'ebruary a, 1911, Serial No. 607,420. RenewedOctober as, 1917. Serial No. 10am.

To all whom it may concern: I Be it known that I, FRIEDERICH Mt'ILLER,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hartford, county ofHartford, State of. Connecticuahave invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Tap-Making Machines, of whichthe following is'aspecification.

In accordance with the invention I pro vide a complete organizedmechanism for automatically milling aseri'es of blanks 1n succession, soarranged that ablank is placed of various pitches may be produced; alsoto in -the machine, com letel milled during one revolution therein,discharged there: from, and another substituted, and so on continuouslyso long as may be desired,'

without manual assista'nc e.

'One of the primary obJects of the lnventionzisgto provide a machine forperforming the various operationsof presenting a blank to a suitablesupport, securing it in position-,-

bringing into a predetermined operative relatlon the blank and a millingtool for simultaneously milling a plurality of thread convolutions onthe blank, rotating the blank during the milling operation andsimultaneously producing predetermined relative movement betweenthe'milling tool and the blank to give the desired pitch and form to thethread, then separating the milling tool and blank, releasing thelatter, and'es'tablishing a predetermined initial relation between. themilling tool and the blank support, these operations being performedantomatically 1n continuous succession and With great accuracy.Otherjlobjectsof the invention are to provide" mechanisms for vautomatically or mechanically supplyingtheblanks to and locating themuniformly 1n a predetermined/po s nwith reference to the blank support,a hen after the milling operation discharging them; also to provide forthe maintenance of aivery accurate and uniform relative-movement betweenthe millin'g tool' and the blank support during-"the .entire milling,operatio'n asrequired to produce 'a practically perfect thread; also toprovide for a readyand accurate variation of the relative movementbetween the milling tool and blank-support, whereby threads provide foreffecting relative movements between the milling toohjr ridthe blank suport to produce a predetermined backing 0 "or relieving of the cuttingedges of the completed trap; also to provide for insuring accuracy mestablishlng the initial relation Patented Julyeo, 191s.

between the blank and its support and be- I the mitial relations betweenthe blank and its support and between the blank support and the millingtool and for securing, releasing and discharging the blank, on the onehand, and, on the other hand, for rotating the blank and movingthemilling tool withrelation to .the blank-support to give the threadthe desired pitch and form; and also to provide for actuating theseindependent mechanisms intermittently and alternately in continuoussuccession, whereby the machine is rendered entirely automatic in op-.

eration. These and other objects of the invention will-in part beobvious and in part be explained in the following description.

The invention consists in the novel improvements, devices, andcombinations hereindisclose The accompanying drawings, wherein isillustrated one of the many possible embodiments of the invention, servein connection with the description herein to explain the principles ofthe invention and one manner of carryin it into effect.

Of the rawmgs:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2is a sectional top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is an enlargedtransverse section partly in elevation on an enlarged scale, the sectionbeing taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig.

4: is a similar view, the section being taken on the line 4+4, Fig. 2;Fig. 5 is a similar view, the section being taken on the line 5-5 ofFig. 2 Fig. 6 is a similar view, the section being taken on the line 6 6of Fig. 2,; Figs. 7 andv 8 are views on a still larger scale,respectively illustrating the blanksupplying'mechanism in two difi'erentpositions; Figs, 8 and 8 are enlarged perspective. and planviewsrespectively of certain details of the blank-supplying mechanism; 105

Fig. 9 is an. enlarged fragmentary view, partlyjn plan and partlyinhorizontal section,.of certain details of the machine; Fig.

'10 is afragmentary side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 9 and ofother details of the machine; Fig. 11 is a vertical section,illustrating a detail on a much enlarged scale; Fig. 12 is a fragmentarytop plan view, partly in section, illustrating another form of cutter inuse; Figs. 13 and 14 are views illustrating an alternate detail ofconstruction; and Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating adetail.

Referring now more particularly to the illustrated embodiment of theinvention, it will be seen that the machine comprises a frame includingthe base 1, the uprights 2, and top plates 8 and 3.

As far as some features of the invention are concerned, any appropriateform of blank support may be employed. In the present embodiment theblank-support includes a spindle 4.- and, a chuck 5 in which the shankend of the blank A is adapted to be positioned and clamped in a mannerpresently to be explained.

In carrying out one feature of the invention all or a plurality of thethread convolutions are simultaneously formed on the blank. While insome instances the blank may with advantage be rotated through more thana single revolution during the thread-forming operation, usually this 0eration may be completed during a single revolution of the blank, as inthe illustrated embodiment. To this end the spindle t is journaled inbearings 6 suitably mounted on the frame and is connected to suitableactuating mechanism adapted to rotate the spindle through a singlerevolution andthen bring it to rest. As shown, this actuating mechanismis arranged to be intermittently connected with a drive-shaft 7 (seeFigs. 2 and 3) extending transversely of and suit-- ably journaled uponthe machine frame. This shaft is provided at one end with a drive-pulley8. A pinion 9 is loosely sleeved on the shaft and is adapted to beintermittently connected therewith for the purpose of driving thespindle 4. Any suitable connection may be provided between the pinionand the spindle. Preferably, however, means are provided for varying thespeed of the spindle with relation to the driving shaft to facilitatemilling blanks of different sizes. To this end a gear 10, meshing withthe pinion 9, is mounted on an arm 11 concentrically supported withrelation to the shaft 7 and provided with a clamp 12 (see Fig. 1) bywhich it may be secured in v arious adjustments to enable the gear 10 tomesh with a gear 13 of any desired size on a shaft 1 1 which'is providedwith a worm 15 meshing with a'worm wheel 16 fixed on the spindle 4. Bysubstituting for the gears 13 other gear of different sizes, the speedof the spindle may be varied. The relative movements between the blankand the milling tool or cutter are controlled by mechanism actuated inunison with the rotation of the spindle, preferably by connections withthe shaft 14, as will be hereinafter explained.

The mechanisms for supplying the blank, for positioning and securing theblank in its support, for separating the cutter and blank after themilling operation is completed, for releasing and discharging the blank,and for establishing a predetermined initial relation of. the blank andcutter, or such of these mechanisms as ifnay be employed, are actuatedalternately with the blank-supporting spindle and preferably are drivenby power and automatically controlled. In the illustrated embodimentthese mechanisms are driven from the power shaft 7, means being providedwhereby the actuating devices for these mechanisms are drivenintermittently and alternately with the intermittent actuation of thespindle 4 and cutter-controlling devices. To-this end the actuatingmeans for the several mechanisms referred to comprises a shaft 17 (seeFigs. 2 and 3), suitably journaled above the frame plate 3 in alinementwith the drive shaft 7, a worm 18 fixed on the shaft 17 and a shaft 20provided with suitable cams and with a worm wheel 19 arranged tomeshwith the worm 18. Any suitable means may be provided for intermittentlyand alternately connecting the drive shaft with the respective actuatingmeans of the alternately operating sets of mechanisms. In theillustrated embodiment a double acting clutch member 21 is spliued onthe inner end of the drive shaft 7 and is adapted to cooperate, whenmoved in one direction, with a clutch member 22 on the gear 9, and, whenmoved in the other direction, with a clutch member 22 fixed on the shaft17.

The mechanism for effecting automatic operation of the clutch-mechanismincludes "a rock shaft 23 suitably journaled above the ranged injuxtaposition to the shaft actuator 26 and suitably fulcrumed on theplate 3 is a rocker member 27 formed with radiating upwardly anddownwardly extending arms 28 and 29, and bored centrally to provide achamber within which a plunger 30 and a push spring 31v are housed. Toretain this spring 31 within the bore, a screw plug 32 is provided, asshown in Fig. 4. The plunger 30 is adapted to be seated by its spring inone or another of the notches or depressions in the shaft actuator 26.

In the embodiment illustrated the actuation of the rocker member 27alternately in opposite directions is effected by parts respectivelyconnected with the spindle 4 and the shaft 20. As shown-in Figs. 1 and4, said spindle and shaft are provided, respectively, withrocker-shifting cam members 33 and 34, which engage alternately with thearms 28 and 29 of the rocker member 27 and rock the same to position theplunger 30 in one or the other of the notches in the shaft actuator 26.The strength of the sprin 31, pressing against the plunger 30, is sucient to move the shaft actuator 26, when released as presentlyexplained, and this in turn rocks the shaft 23 to shift theclutch-member 21 into engagement with one or the other of the clutchmembers 22 and 22 for connecting and disconnecting the shafts 14 and17with the drive shaft 7.

To render positive and to time with accuracy the actuations of theclutch mechanism the rock shaft 23 is temporarily held in the positionto which it may have been moved by the rocker member 27, and thenreleased at the proper instants. To this end the rock shaft 23 isprovided with upwardly and downwardly extending catch arms 35 and 36,adapted to be alternately engaged respectively by latches 37 and 38.These latches are fulcrumed intermediate their ends and are normallyforced toward the clutch arms by a sprin 39 connectedat their outerends. When t e shaft actuator is operated by the plunger 30 to rocktheshaft 23, the catch arms 35 and 36 will be moved so that one or theother will be en gaged by the hooked end of its respective latch 37 or38. The catches are operated to release the clutch actuator atpredetermined points in the rotation of the actuating spindles or shafts4 and 20. As shown, the spins dle 4 is provided with a disk 40 carryingon its periphery a trip 41, adapted to operate the catch 37, and theshaft 20 is similarly provided with a disk 42 arranged in verticalalinement with the disk 40 and provided with a trip 43 adapted tooperate the catch 38.

As the partsare shown in Fig. 4, the shaft 20 with its disk 42 is beingrotated in the direction of the arrow, and the trip 43. is about tooperate the catch 38. When this occurs, the rock shaft 23 will bereleased and moved by the spring plunger 30, which is now acting at thelower end of the actuator 26, and thus disengage the clutch 21 fromthe'clutch 22 and engage with the clutch 22. The actuating meanscomprising the shafts-17 and 20 will thus be disconnected from the driveshaft, and the actuating means comprising the shaft-14 spindle 4 willbeconnected with the drive shaft and set',into-operation. 'As

the disk 40, which is connected with the spindle 4, begins its rotation,the trip.4 1

moves idly past the catch 37 and then the cam 33 will engage the arm 28and-move the rock member 27 so that the plung'er- 30 thereigi of willengage the recess 26 in the shaft ac 't'" 'tuator 26. By the time thisoccurs, however,

the catch arm 35 will be held by the'catch 37 so that the clutch 21 willremain in engagement with the clutch 22. The *cam 33 will therefore passthe arm 28, and the spindle 4.v will continue to rotate until it hasmade a full revolution. The trip 41 will then operate the catch 37 andrelease the arm p whereupon the spring plunger30, will rock the shaft 23and disconnect the clutch 21 from the clutch 22 and reengage it with theclutch 22". The actuating means comprising the shafts 17 and 20 willthen be again connected with the driving shaft and will be driventhrough another cycle,.as before. It will be seen therefore that thismechanism will operate to drive the two independent actuating mechanismsalternately in continuous succession. In a separate application fordriving mechanism, Serial No. 198,058, filed October 23rd, 1917, as adivisionofthe present case, I have set forth and claimed the drivingmechanism which 'I have herein described. This driving mechanismtherefore is not claimed asconstituting by itself a art of the presentinvention.

- eturning now to the means for supporting the'blank during the millingoperation, which will be presently described, means are preferablyprovided in addition to the chuck 5 to engage the end opposite that,held, by the chuck and thus prevent the blank. from springing undulyunder the action of the milling tool or cutter. In accordance with onefeatureof the invention, this means is also made useof to position theblank in apredetermined relation to the milling tool or cutter. Intheillustrated embodiment (,see Fig. 2) this positioning and supportingmeans comprises a tailstock 44 having a centering device 45 adapted toengage the end of the blank opposite that held by the being located inthe axial line of said spindle.

Since the milling tool or cutter, in the preferred form, or the supportstherefor. must be located along one side of the blank and extend beyondthe endthereof, it .is necessary, in the preferred embodiment of theinvention, to-mount the 'tailstock at the opposite side of 'the blank,the centering device the tailstock into-contact with the blank are notin line with the blank, thereis apt to bejlttlv I being arranged in anoutwardly Projecting or overhanging portion thereof: As .with Y [1'thisarrangement the forces acting to move a slight springing of theparts, when the tailstock is brought into engagement with the blank;and, if the tailstock is brought into contact with the blank withvarying degrees of force, there will be corresponding varying degrees ofspring and consequent variations in the sizes of the taps or similararticles operated upon by the cutter. To overcome this difiiculty meansis provided, in accordance with one feature of the invention, forcausing the tailstock to bear upon the blank always with the same forceso that, if any spring occurs, it will be uniform and will not causevariations in the product. To this end the following mechanism isemployed for operating the tailstock slide 44: A second slide 47 (seeFigs. 2 and 5) is mounted upon the support 46, and this slide 47 isconnected with the slide 44 by a frictional connection adapted to exerta predetermined degree of force. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, thisfrictional connection comprises a block 49 connected by a screw 48 withthe slide 47, said block being provided with an opening in which ismounted a friction shoe 52, shown in Fig. 5, adjustable by means of ascrew 53 to bear with the desired degree of pressure upon a rod 55 fixedin the tailstock 44. It will be seen that whenever the slide 47 is movedtoward the work spindle4, the slide 44 will be caused to move with ituntil the center comes in contact with the blank; and, the blank beingheld by the chuck, the friction shoe will then slip on the rod 55 butexert a predetermined force thereon. When the slide 47 is moved in theopposite direction, the tailstock will be withdrawn from theblank, andin order to reestablish the initial position between the two slides uponthe return movement thereof a collar 56 is fixed on the rod 55inposition to engage a stop 54 fixed on the support 46.

For the purpose of firmly clamping the tail-stock, when it has beenmoved into contact with the blank with a force predetermined by theadjustment of the friction shoe 52, the following devices are provided:A gib 57 (see Figs. 2 and 11) forming a part of the guide for thetailstock 44, is provided with an eyebolt 58 which passes through theslide support 46 and is pivotally connected with a lever 59 which at oneend is provided with a roller 60 (see Figs. 1 and 2) adapted to contactwith a cam piece 61 fixed on the slide 47,'this cam piece being soshaped that, as the slide 47 approaches thelimit of its movement towardthe blank, the lever will be actuated to force the gib against thetailstock 44 and thus firmly clamp it. For the purpose of adjusting theclamping pressure, the fulcrum of the lever 59 is formed by an adjustingscrew 62, the point of which bears upon a suitable support, as the headof a second screw 63.

The slide 47 may be operated in any suitable way. As shown, the head ofthe screw 48 is extended to form a pivotal connection with the end of alever 64 which,as shown in Fig. 1, is fulcrumed at an intermediate point65 on the frame and is provided at its lower end with a roller 66adapted to be engaged by suitable cams 67 and 68 upon a cam drum 69fixed on the shaft 20.

In order that the tailstock may operate to position, as well as support,the blank,-the cams are so formed as to give the tailstock a preliminarymovement of predetermined length toward the blank-holding spindle, thetailstock being then stopped, while the blank is gripped by the chuck 5,as hereinafter explained. The slide 47 is then given a second movementin the same direction to make sure that the tailstock will bear with theforce predetermined by the adjustment of 'the friction shoe against the.end of the blank, this second movement of the slide 47 being continueduntil the tailstock is clamped by the operation of the lever 59 and theclamping devices connected therewith. Upon the return movement of theslide 47 the tailstock will first be released from the clamping devicesand then returned to its initial position which is determined by theadjustment of the collar 56.

As the blank may have either a tapered and pointed end, as indicated inFigs. 2 and 9, or a flat end provided with a center hole, as indicatedin Figs. 12,13, and 14, the centering device 45 may be either providedwith a center hole, in which the pointed end of the blank may be held,or the centering device may be provided with a point adapted to engagethe center hole in the blank. Where the blanks are provided with centerholes, it happens in practice that these center holes vary in size ordepth in the different blanks. In order that the blanks may be properlycentered notwithstanding these variations in the center holes, mean'sother than the pointed centering devices may be provided to engage theend of the blank to adjust its position, the .centering device beingthen moved into engagement with the hole with a predetermined force, asabove explained, after the blank is gripped in the chuck. One form ofthis centerin means is illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14. eferrinfi to Fig.13, it will be seen that the pointe centering device 45 is provided witha bore at one side of the point in which is located a small plunger 45,which is normally pressed outward by a spring 45 so that its end engagesthe blank adjacent the center chuck the second movement of the slide 47and cause the point of the centering device to enter the centering holein the blank and bear thereon with a pressure predetermined by thefriction shoe-52 as previousl plained, this position of the partsillustrated in Fig. 14. i

Having now described the blank-supporting means and the actuating andcontrolling devices therefor, the mechanism for supplying) anddischarging the blanks-will be' descri ed. In the embodiment of theinvention illustrated (see Figs. 1, 7, 8, 8 and 8 the mechanismfor-supplying blanks to the blank-holder includes a magazine 70 mountedon a slide 71 arranged in a guideway 72 fixed on the frame. The magazineincludes an angular upright or standard 7 3, one portion 74 thereofforming a side section and another portion 75 forming an end section ofthe magazine. The opposite end section of the magazine comprisesan-angular plate 76 adjustably secured to the portion 74 of the uprightto adapt the magazine to ac commodate blanksof different lengths.

Adjust-ably mounted on the inner face of the end portion 75 is anangular plate 78. The angular plate 76 is provided with two plates 79and 80- relatively adjustable by means, respectively, of the adjustingscrews 81-. and 82 threaded through the angular plate 76 and an anglebracket 77 secured to the plate 76. The plates 78,79, and 80 are madeadjustable to provide a channel or runway 83 adapted to accommodatedifierent sized blanks.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8,"the'blanks A occupy a position in themagazine parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spindle 4. To efiect aproper delivery of a single blank at a time, a suitable controllingmechanism is provided. The preferred embodiment of this mechanismincludes a shaft 84 journaled in the upright 73 near the bottom of themagazine. Fast on said shaft is an arm 85. Arranged in juxtaposition tosaid arm 85 and loose on said shaft is an angle lever '86. Extendingthrough the ends of the arm 85 and the lever 86 is a T-headed pin 87which is encircled by a compression. spring 88 confined between the saidends. Also fast on said shaft 84 is an arm 89 which rocks the shaftand-through the arm 85 and spring 88 rocks the lever 86 which is looseupon the shaft 84. The lower branch of this lever 86 is provided withfingers 90 and 91, which, by reason of the spring 88,'are yieldinglythrust-between the blanks in the channel when the shaft 84 is rocked inone direction, the finger 90 being projected between the fluted portionsand the finger 91 between the shanks of the two lowermost blanks,thereby separating and slightly lift ing the blanks within the magazine.By this means the descent of the blanks in the blank channel of themagazine is controlled, so that but one blank can be delivered therefromat a time.

form the function just described a cam block 92 is fixed on the guideway72. The cam block 92 is provided with a horizontal face 93, a downwardlyslopin face 94, and a second horizontal face95r-- twill be understoodthat the cam block is. stationary, while the magazine moves, and thatwhen the. lever 89 is resting on the ineffective face 93, the fingers 90and 91 will project into In order to actuate the arm 89 to pertheblankchannel and support the blanks therein. As the magazine moves toward thespin dle 4 and carries with it the arm 89, the

endof said arnr traverses the inclined face of the cam block and turnsthe shaft 84 eitherby the weight of the arm or by spring 89 (see Fig. 1)to actuate the arm 85, which through the T-headed pin 87 rocks the anglelever 86 and withdrawsthe' fingers from the blank channel to. thepositions shown in Fig. 8. As the magazine is moved away from thespindle 4, the arm 89 again traverses the inclined face of the cam blockand thereby effects a rocking of the shaft 84 which in turn moves'thearm 85, and thisthrough the sprin 88 transfers its movement yieldinglyto t e angle lever 86 and again yieldingly positions the blank-engagingfingers in the blank channel of the magazine.

The movement of the magazine is accomplished'in the following manner: vUpon the lower portion of the magazine support 71 a depending block 96is adjustably secured by a projection 97, adjusting screws 98 and 98,and clamp screw 98, to regulate the extent of movement of the saldsupport. The block 96 is provided with an antifrlc- 'tion roller 99 (seeFig. 6) which occupies a position below the plane of the top plate 3 ofthe machine. Arranged in juxtaposition to said antifriction roller 99is' a cam drum 100 (Fig. 6) provided with cams 101 and 101. The cam drumis fast on a trans-- verse shaft 102 suitably journaled in the v framework of the machine and, driven from the shaft 20 by bevel gears 103 and104.

To receive a blank from the magazine and transfer it to theblank-supporting means, a blank carrier is provided and actuated asfollows: As shown, the-blank carrier comprises a segmental member 105(see F1gs.,' 7 and .8)' pivoted upon the Sllde 71 1mmed1- ately beneaththe magazine. Thesegmental member islopera'ted by '.a depending armcarrying an antifriction roller 107 adapted to travel in a cam groove108 formed in a block 109 fixed, on-the machine frame. The segmentalmember 105 is provided with a transverse groove'in which is located ablank carrier member 1 12 .(see Fig. 8") having a recess of a size andshape adapted to hold the blanks A. This member 112 1s made detachable,being normally retained by a screw 113 in order that it may be removedand replaced by similar members having recesses suitable for blanks ofdifferent sizes.

For the purpose of positioning the blanks in predetermined relation tothe blank carrier, thereby enabling the latter to deliver the blanks inpredetermined position with relation to the blank support and cutter,the carrier member is recessed at one side, as shown in Fig. 8andhn'eans 'areprovided acting through this recess to engage the blankin such a wa as to position it in the carrier member. is shown, a springdetent 116 is fixed on the carrier member, said detent tending normallyto remain in a retracted position to permit the blank to enter thecarrier, when the latter is in position under the magazine, as shown inFig. 7. As the carrier moves from its blank-receiving position to theblank-delivering position shown in Fig. 8, means are provided foractuating the detent to position the blank and retain it in the carrierto prevent accidental displacement. As shown, a lever 117 is fulcrumedon the segmental member 105 with one end adjacent to the detent 116v andthe other end depending in a position to strike a stationar cam block118 fixed on the frame in the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig.7. The lever is normally pressed toward the detent spring 116 by spring119 which has sufficient force to overcome the detent spring.

' The cam groove 108 is so formed and located that, when the slide 71 isin its retracted position, the carrier 112 is in position to receive thelowermost blank which is separated from the remaining blanks in themagazine. When the slide 71 is advanced,

the segment 105 will first be rotated through an arc of about ninetydegrees to bring the blank into the axial plane of the spindle 4.

' and then advanced until the blank is brought into axial alinement withthe spindle, as shown in Fig. 8. As soon as thesegment starts from theposition shown in Fig. 7, the lever 117 is released and the spring 119moves the detent 116 into contact with the fiat portion of theblank toposition the blank in the holder and prevent accidental displacementthereof. When the blanks in the magazine are released by the fingers 91during the forward motion of the parts, they drop down so thatthe'lowermost blank rests upon the concentric surface of the segment1'05 and is retained thereby in position to drop into the carrier member112, when the segment returns to normal position. -When the carrier isin the position shown in Fig. 8 the blank is engaged by' the tailstockand by the chuck in the manner already explained. As the carrier isreturned to the position shown in Fig. 7 the blank is'drawn out, beingretained by the said tailstock and. chuck.

In a separate application for magazine mechanism, Serial No. 198,056,filed October 23rd, 1917, as a division of the present case, I have setforth and claimed the magazine mechanism which I have herein described.This-'magazine mechanism therefore isnot claimed as constitutin thepresent invention. 7

The blank having been positioned within the chuck 5, the latter isoperated to grip the blank in any suitable manner. As shown, the chuckis connected to a sleeve 120 (see Fig. 2) arranged within the hollowspindle 4 and this sleeve projects to a point near the rear end of thespindle where it is engaged by levers 121 pivoted on an extension of thespindle and actuated by a sliding cone 122. This cone is actuated at theproper times to grip and release the blank by cams 123 and 124 (see alsoFig. 1) on a cam drum 125 fixed on the shaft 20. After the blank isreleased it may be ejected by any suitable means, as by an ejector rod126 arranged within the sleeve 120 and projecting beyond the rear end ofthe spindle, where it is provided with a collar 127 adapted to beactuated through suitable connections by cams 128 and 129 on the drum125.

The mechanism for milling the blank and for producing the requiredrelative movements between the milling cutter and the W by itself a partof blank will now be described. For. the purpose of forming threads uponthe blank there is provided a milling tool or cutter which is adapted toout a plurality of thread convolutions or grooves simultaneously, andmeans is provided for effecting during each revolution of the blank arelative movement between the cutter and the blank endwise or in thedirection of the axis of the blank through a distance equal to the pitchof the thread,

this distance being also the pitch of the verse to the axis of theblank, this movement being a reciprocatory one, the number ofreciprocations corresponding to the number of longitudinal cutting edgesor'lands on the tap blank. 1

As shown in Figs. 2 and 9, the milling cutter 130 is provided with aseries of groove cutting points 01' teethhaving a pitch corresponding tothat of the tap to be threaded, the cutter bein of suflioient length tocut all theth s on the blank by a shaft 131 during one revolution ofthe'blank. It will I be understood that the cutting teeth on the cutterare arranged in circumferential lines without any lead or spirality andthat the cutter is to be continuously rotated at a proper cutting speed.As shown, the cutter 130 is mounted on a spindle 131 which is journaledin suitable bearings 132 and 133 upon a cuttersupport 134. The spindleis continuously driven in any suitable way, as havinga driving ulley132, this shaft and pulley being suita bly mounted uponthemain frame andconnected with the cutter spindle by suitable flexible connectionsadapted to accommodate the neces-' sary movements of the cutter withrelation to the blank. The end of the cutter opposite the spindle 131may be supported and steadied by a center rest 135 mounted upon thesupport 134 and adapted to be moved into contact with the cutter andsecured in any suitable way, as by the rack and pinion adjusting means136 and the capstan clamp screws 137.

For the purpose of bringing the cutter into proper alinement andadjustment with relation to a given size of blank, the support 134 ismounted to slide transversely to the axis. of the blank upon a plate138, as shown in Fig. 6, and these parts are connected by a screw 139having a hand wheel 140 by which the slide 134 may be adjusted to causethe cutter to penetrate the blank to the required depth. When the properadjustment has been effected, the shde may be firmly secured by a'clampscrew 140. For the purpose of bringing the cutter into accurate parallelrelation with the blank, the plate/138 is 'pivotally mounted upon a second plate 141, the pivotal axis bein vertical so that the axis of thecutter may 6 swung in the plane of the axis of the blank to bring thetwo axes into parallel relation.

' For the purpose of reciprocating the cutter in the directiontransverse to the axis of the blank to perform the backin ofl"operation, the plate 141 is arranged to slide in a direction transverseto the axis of the blank upon a carriage 142 which in turn is guided inthe top plate 301 the machine to move in a direction parallel to theaxis of the blank for a purpose presently to be explained. Thereciprocatory movement of the plate 141 may be produced in various ways.In the construct-ion shown a lever 143 is pivoted in an opening-in thecarriage 142 at a point close to the plate 141 and is provided with ashort arm-adapted to engage the said plate. In order that the ex-' tentof the vibratory movement may be. va-

ried means are provided for varying the effective length of the shortarm of the lever.

As shown, a movable-abutment 141 (see Fig.

"15) mounted. on-the plate 141, a ,screw 141" being provided'to 'moveand control the supportin 'are permitted to return, this movement beingeffected by a spring 147 arranged between the carriage 142 and the plate141, as clearlv shown inFlg. 6. It will be seen that by this mechanismprovision is made to .move the carriage in a direction transverse to theaxis of the blank through minute and very accurately determineddistances, as required to effect the slight relieving of the threads cuton the blank. It will be understood that the shaft 145 mustbe given asingle revolution for each cutting edge or land ofthe blank. To thisend, the shaft 145, which is n'iounted in suitable bearings beneath thecarriage 142 and is extended to a point beneath the shaft .14, isprovided with a worm wheel 148 (see also Fig. 3) which meshes with aworm 1'49 on the shaft 14. It will be understood that the vproportionsof this worm and worm wheel are so threaded blank to be positioned inthe bla'nk- 'tracting the cutter' support at the endof each rotation ofthe blank. This may ,be accomplished in various .ways. As shown, thenotch 146 in the cam 144 is made deep and the lever 143 is. providedwith a projection 149 which enters this notch far'enough to permit ofthe movement requiredto separate the cutter'from the blank, it bein.understood that the cam will be so positioned or timed that, when theblankcarrying'spindle is stopped, the cam will be stopped with its notch146 opposite the projection on the lever. To prevent the projection onthe lever143 from entering the notch'146 upon each revolution of the cam144, means are provided for controlling the lever 143 during the periodof operation of the cam 144, said-means serving to efiect the separationof thecutter and blank, as permitted by the Fig} 6) is normally solocated astoengage means, provision is made for rethe free end of thelever 143 and prevent the projection thereon from entering the notch146. This abutment is connected with a rod abutment 150 will be inoperative relation to the lever 143. When the work-carrying spindle andthe cam 144 stop and the actuating shaft 20 is started, the cam 152immediatelv releases the abutment 150 and the lever 143 so as to permitthe cutter to move away from the blank under the influence of the spring147. Just before the actuating shaft 20 completes its revolution, thecam 152 again comes into operation to move the abutment 150 back to itsnormal position and thus establish a predetermined initial relationbetween the cutter and the blank in a direction transverse to the axisthereof, this blank being a new blank which has in the -meantime beenintroduced into the blank-supporting means.

So far as certain features of the'invention are concerned, any suitablemeans may be provided for effecting a relative movement between thecutter and the blank or between the cutter support and the blank supportin the direction of the axis of the blank,-as required to give theproper pitch to the thread. In accordance with one feature oftheinvention, however, the means for eflecting this-relative movement isconstructed to make certain that the relative movement will be under wayand maintained with uniformity and accuracy during the entire threadforming operation so that the pitch of thethread will be uniformthroughout. The construction of the said means is such, also, that theoperation thereof may be regulated to produce threads of differentpitches with great accuracy and facility. These means comprise a memberfor effecting the relative movement between the cutter and blanksupports, which member is moved, preferably through a relatively greatdistance to produce proportionately small movement of one of thesupports with relation to the other, by one train of mechanism and isthen disconnected and returned to its normal position by independentmeans 011a second train of mechanism, the first train being constructedto move the member at the required low rate of speed in unison. withrotation of the blank and with great accuracy, and the second train ofmechanism being adapted to return the member, preferably with arelatively quick motion to its starting position after the completion ofthe thread forming operation or while the blank rotating means is atrest.

In the embodiment illustrated the relative movement between the cutterand blank supports is effected by moving the cutter support withrelation to the blank support, the member for effecting this movementbeing in the form of a slide 153 (see Fig. 9) arranged to movetransversely to the carriage 142 upon which the cutter support ismounted. This slide is actuated in one direction by a pinion 154 (seeFigs. 2 and 9), arranged to mesh with a rack 155 on the slide 153, saidpinion being fixed on a shaft 156 suitably journaled in a secondaryslide 157 mounted on the carriage 142, Fixed on the shaft 156 is a wormwheel 158 which normally engages a worm 159 fixed on a shaft journaledin a bearing sleeve 160 fixed on the frame. Means is provided fordriving the worm 159 at different speeds with relation to the rotationof the blank-carrying spindle 4 for producing threads of differentpitches. As shown, (see Fig. 3) the shaft of the worm 159 is providedwith a gear 161 adapted to mesh with a gear 162 journaled on an arm 163mounted concentrically with a shaft 164 and adapted to be secured invarious adjustments with relation thereto by a clamp 165. The shaft 164has fixed thereon a gear 166 adapted to mesh with the gear 162 and aspiral gear 167 arranged to mesh with a corresponding spiral gear 168 onthe shaft 14. By substituting for the gear 161 other gears of differentsizes and adjusting the arm 163 to bring the gear 162 into mesh withsuch substituted gears, the worm 159 may be driven at any desired speedwith relation to the revolution of the blank-carrying spindle 4. 'Ifdesired, the speed of the worm 159 may be varied through a still widerrange by substituting for the gears 162 and 166 other gears havingdifferent relative proportions. In this way the slide 153 may be movedthrough any desired distance during a single revolution of theblank-carrying spindle. 4 In any case the motion of the slide 153 willbe relatively great, as compared with the movement which is to beimparted thereby to the carriage 142. The relatively great longitudinalmovement of the slide 153 is converted into the. relatively slightmovement of the carriage 142 by any suitable means. As shown, a wedge 17O is formed on or secured to one side of the slide 153 and this wedge isadapted to cotiperate with a suitable stationar abutment 171 having aninclined face 1 2 against which the wedge 170 bears. It will be seenthat with a given proportion of the gears connecting the worm 159 withthe shaft 14, the slide 153 will be moved through a given distanceduring a single revolution of the blank-carrying spindle the movementbeing uniform and continued throughout the revolution of the blank, thuscausing a given movement of the carriage 142 and producing a given pitchof the thread formed by the cutter upon the blank, it being understoodthat the pitch of the cutter teeth is equal to that of the thread. Afterthe thread on one blank has been completed, the cutter must be separatedfrom the blank and returned to its initial position with relation to theblank-su port to begin its operation on the next 'b ank.

This may be accomplished in various ways.

In the embodiment shown, the slide 153 must be returned to its startingposition before the carriage 142 can be moved back to establish theinitial relation of the cutter and the blank support in the direction ofthe axis of the blank. In order to return the slide 153 to its startingposition, the driving connection between. it and the shaft 14 must bereleased. As shown, this driving connection is released by moving theworm wheel 158 out of mesh with the worm 159. To this end, the shaft 156carrying the worm wheel 158 and inion 154 is mounted in the slide 157which 1s normally pressed inward by a spring 17 3 arranged betweenfabracket 174 and the slide 157, as shown inFig. 2. This springtendsconstantly to keep the worm wheel 158 in mesh with the worm 159. Theseparation of these parts after the completion of the blank-threadingoperation may be efi'ected by any suitable connection with the actuatingshaft 20. As shown, a sleeve 175 is arranged between the slide 157 andthe end of a lever'176 fulcrumed at the opposite side of the machine, asshown in Figs. 1 and 9, the opposite end of the lever being ar-" rangedin thepath of a cam 177- on the cam drum 100. This cam isso timed thatas soon as the shaft 20 begins its revolution, the lever will beoperated to disconnect the worm 159 and worm wheel. The wedge-carryingslide 153 will then be free to return to its starting position and thismay be accomplished by any suitable connections with the actuating shaft20. As shown, a rod 180 is arranged to slide within the sleeve 17 5 andto engage at one end with the slide 153- and to be engaged at the otherend by'an adjusting screw 181' mounted in an arm 182 connected with theslide 71 which carries the magazine of the blank-supplying mechanism, asclearly shown in Fig. 9. It follows that when themagazine is actuated todeliver a blank tovtheblank-carrying spindle,

the rod 180 will also'be actuated to retur the slide 153 to its startingposition. I

' The carriage 142 is now free to be re-e by a cam 184 on the cam drum69 by Whi h the tailstock scribed. v

It will seen that the carriage 142 must is operated, as previouslydefrictional connections previousllyl1 begin its forward movementsimultaneously withthe beginning of the thread-cutting operation,otherwise the pitch of the thread the wedge 170 bears upon the abutmentsurface 172 without any chance for lost motion and always withsubstantially the same pressure, the beginning of the motion of thecarriage' 142 will not be uniform with relation to the beginning of themotion of the blankoa-rrying spindle. The complete return of thecarriage to its initial position with substantially the same initialpressure between the'wedge and abutment, may be insured'in various ways,as by providing yielding connections between the actuating means and thecarriage. As shown, the cam 184 is constructed to exert a predeterminedpressure upon the arm 183 of the carriage. To

I this-end, the cam 184 is pivoted near its advanced end and is pressedin the direction of the motion of the carriage 142 by a coiled spring185 confined, preferably with a predetermined initial compression,between the and nicely adjusted, the arm 183 maybe adjusted withrelation to the 'carriage 142 by an adjusting screw 187, as shown 1nFig.

10, the arm being clamped in its adjusted pov sition by a clamp bolt188.

The operation of thevarious parts of the machine having been describedin connection with the construction thereof, it only remains to statebriefly how the various parts coiiperate to produce the desired result.'Starting for convenience at the point when the threading of a tap blankhas just been completed. and the blank-supporting spindle 4 has justfinished its rotation, it will be remembered that at this instant theactuating shaft 20 will be set inmotlon. Therotation of this shaft andthe cams connected therewith brings about the following operationssubstantially in the order stated: The cutter and tailstock are movedaway from the blank, the chuck 5 releases the blank and the ejector 126insures the dis: charge of the blank from the chuck, "whence it drops-Fout ofthe machine. supplying means then operates to aline another blankaxiallywith the spindle 4, the tailstock advances through the first stepof its motion and positions the blank in the chuck, the blank beingsteadied'during this operation and prevented from moving too far by theejector rod 126.. -The chuck is then operated to grip the blankwhereupon The blank- 1 predetermined pressure-by reason of the 7 andthen is firmly clamped in s position described by the action of thelever 59 and cam 61. In the meantime the cutter carriage actuating slide153 has been released from its driving connections with the spindle 4,moved back to its starting position and resecured to its drivingconnections, the cutter carriage returned to its initial position andfinally the cuttter brought back into its initial relation with theblank support ready to begin the milling of the new blank. By this timethe actuating shaft 20 has completed its rotation and stopped. Theactuating shaft 1 1 then starts to rotate the blank and effects themovements of the cutter'both in the di rection of the axis of the blankand in the transverse direction, as required to form and relieve thethread on the new blank. These operations are repeated in continuoussuccession, where the two actuating means typified by the shafts 14 and20 are driven by power and automatically controlled, as in theembodiment illustrated, no attention being required from the operatorexcept to keep the magazine supplied with blanks and to test the productof the machine from time to time to see that the machine is properlyperforming its functions.

. -While the embodiment of the invention illustrated is particularlyadapted for performing the operation of threading tap blanks, theinvention may, as to some of its features be applied to machines forperforming other operations upon tap blanks and similar operations uponother articles, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Inaddition to threading tap blanks the embodiment of the inventionillustrated has been successfully employed, for instance, for taperingthe ends of taps. The only changes required to perform this operationare to substitute a suitable form of milling tool or cutter, such asthat illustrated at 190 in Fig. 12, for the form of cutter previouslydescribed and render inoperative the mechanism for moving the cuttercarriage in the direction of the axis of the blank. The machine willthen operate to taper the ends of the taps, the tapered surface formedon each land being relieved or backed off just as the threads wererelieved or backed off in the thread-forming operation.

' It is to be understood therefore that the invention in its broaderaspects is not con-f fined to theparticular constructions herein shownand described nor to any particular construction by which it has been ormay be carried into effect, as numerous changes may be made withoutdeparting from the main principles of the invention and withoutsacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of means for supporting a blank, means for cuttingthe blank, mechanism for rotating the blank during the cutting operationand for simultaneously causing relative movement between the cuttweenthe cutting means and each blank, and

means for automatically actuating said mechanism alternately incontinuous succession.

3. The combination of means for supporting a blank, means for cuttingthe blank, mechanism for rotating'the blank during said cuttingoperation and for simultaneously causing relative movement between thecutting means and the blank support, mechanism for successivelysupplying blanks to and for securing them in and for releasing them fromthe supporting means, and means for automatically actuating saidmechanism alternately in continuous succession.

4:. The combination of means for supporting a blank, means for cuttingthe blank, mechanism for rotating the blank during said cuttingoperation and for simultaneously causing relative movement between thecutting means and the blank support, mechanism for supplying the blanksto and securing them in and releasing them from the supporting means andfor establishing a predetermined initial relation between the cuttingmeans and each blank, and means for automatically actuating saidmechanisms alternately in continuous succession.

5. The combination of means for supporting a blank, means for cuttingthe blank, mechanism for rotating the blank during the cutting operationand for simultaneously causing relative endwise movement between thecutting means and the blank support, mechanism for successivelysupplying blanks to the blank support, and means vfor automaticallyactuating said mechanisms alternately in continuous succession.

6. The combination of means for support ing a blank, means for cuttingthe blank, mechanism for rotating the blank during the cutting operationand for simultaneously causing relativereciprocatory relieving movementsbetween the cutting means and the blank support, mechanism forsuccessively supplying blanks to the blank support, and means forautomatically actuating said mechanisms alternately in continuoussuccession.

7. A machine for threading taps and the and the blank support, mechanismfor suc-' .simultaneously cutting a plurality of thread convolutions onthe blank, mechanism for rotating the blank during the cuttingoperationand for simultaneously causing relative movement between thecutting means cessively supplying the blanks to and securing them in thesupporting means with their grooves in a predetermined relation to thecutting means, and means for automatically actuating said mechanismsalternately in continuous succession.

8. A machine for milling taps and the like including in combination,means for su porting a blank, means for milling t e blank, mechanism forrotating the blank and for causing relative movement between the millingtool and the blank during the milling operation, mechanism forsuccessively supplying blanks t0 the blank support and for, establishina predetermined initial relation between tfie milling tool and the blanksupport, and means for automatically actuating said mechanismsalternately in continuous succession.

5 9. The combination of means for supporting a blank, means for cuttingthe b ank, mechanism for rotating the blank during the cutting'operationand for causing a relative movement between the cutting means and theblank support, mechanism for successively supplying blanks to the blanksup-. port, actuating means for-each of said mechanisms, driving means,and means rendered operative by each actuating means for disconnectingsaid actuating means from the driving means and connecting the otheractuating'means with said drivmg means;

i 10. The combination'of means for su porting a blank, means for cuttingt e blank, mechanism for rotating the blank during the cutting operationand for causing a relative movement between the cutting means and theblank support, mechanism for successively supplying blanks to the blanksupport and for establishing a predetermined initial relation betweenthe cut ting means and the blank support, actuating means for each oftsaid mechanisms, driving means, and means rendered operative by eachactuating means for dlsconnecting sald actuating means from the drivingmeans and connecting the other actuating means with said driving means.7

11. A machine 'for milling taps-and the like including in combinat1on,means 'for supporting a blank, means for milling the blank, mechanismfor rotating the blank and for causing relative movement between themilling tool and the blank during the milling operation, mechanism for,successively supplying blanks, to the blankgsupport'and for establishinga predetermine'd. nitial re-v lation between the milling tool and theblank support, an actuating'm'eans for each of said mechanisms, adriving means, and means rendered operatlve by each actuatlng means fordisconnecting said actuating means from the driving means and connectingthe other actuating means to the drivmg means.

12. The combination of means for supporting a blank, means for millingthe blank, mechanism for rotatingthe blank and causing relative movementbetween the millingtool and the blank during the milling operation,mechanism for successively securing the blanks in the blank support,actuating means for each of said mechanisms, driving means, and meansrendered operative by one actuating means for releasing said actuatingmeans from thedriving means and connecting the other actuating meanswith the driving means, said connecting means being normally locked bythe actuating means then in control of it.

13. The combination of means for'supporting and rotating a blank, arotating cutter, means for, bringing the cutter and the blank intopredetermined cooperative relation prior to the rotationof theblank,means -for eflecting reciprocatory relieving movements between thecutter and the blank in timed relation to the rotation .of the blank,and means for stopping the rotative blank movement with the blankapproximately in its initial angular position.

14. The combination of means for supporting and rotating alongitudinally grooved blank, means whereby the blank may be positionedwith the grooves in pre- Y determined angular positions, a rotatincutter, means for bringing the, cutter an the, blank into predeterminedcooperative relation prior to the rotation of the blank,meansforefiecting a reciprocatory relieving move-.

grooved blank, a rotating cutter, means whereby the blank may bepositioned with one of the grooves opposite the cutter, means forbringing the cutter-and the blank into predetermined cooperativerelation prior to the rotation of the blank, means for effecting areciprocatory relieving movement between the cutter'and the blank foreach groove of theblank as the blank is rotated, and means for stoppingthe rotative blank movement with the blank approximately in its initialangular position.

16."-The combination of means for sup porting and rotating a blank, arotating cutter, means for bringing the cutter and the

